It took several days for search and rescue to locate the bodies. (submitted photo/Jim Searson)

By Derek Cornet

In mourning

Grandmother’s Bay councillor says residents need to ‘stick together’ following weekend tragedy

Apr 21, 2021 | 1:12 PM

Residents of Grandmother’s Bay are in shock and mourning following the death of three community members over the weekend.

“I want to send all my prayers to them to the families to the whole community to let them know we got to stick together,” said Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB) Coun. Gerald McKenzie. “We got to fight the negative, do our prayers and help each other. Help the kids who are affected.”

The three residents who passed away had reportedly left Grandmother’s Bay Saturday at about 9:30 p.m. on snowmachines travelling to Stanley Mission. They never did arrive, they were reported missing and a search the following day led to the discovery of tracks that led to open water about two kilometres away from Grandmother’s Bay.

By Tuesday afternoon, all three bodies had been recovered and McKenzie confirmed the identities of the deceased are Cindy Roberts, Dorothy Roberts Charles and Richard McKenzie.

“There’s a lot of people hurt and we can’t be separating at this time blaming each other, blaming somebody,” McKenzie said. “We have to move forward because we can’t change what has happened already. We must move forward and live for the future.”

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Many organizations assisted in the search including Grandmother’s Bay Search and Rescue, Civil Air Search and Rescue Association, Stanley Mission RCMP, RCMP Underwater Recovery and community members. The recovery teams utilized remote operated vehicles (ROV’s), underwater cameras and boats.

Search and rescue teams searched until midnight on Monday. (submitted photo/Jim Searson)

In a statement released Tuesday by LLRIB Chief Tammy Cook-Searson, she said she wanted to extend heartfelt condolences to the families affected and to community members.

“On behalf of the community of Grandmother’s Bay, we want to thank everyone for the outpour of support,” she wrote. “Thank you to Grandmother’s Bay and Stanley Mission ROV operators and searchers, Prince Albert Grand Council ROV search, rescue and recovery teams, all searchers, helpers, cooks and those providing transportation, coordination/communication, Anglican Church clergy, and to everyone for your continued prayers and support.”

Brian Hardlotte, the Grand Chief of Prince Albert Grand Council, extended his deepest condolences to and showed solidarity with the family and community of Grandmother’s Bay.

“For many years, our communities have relied on the experience of Grandmother’s Bay search, rescue, and recovery team for past searches, so it was important for us to come to them during their time of need and help them find the closure needed during times like these,” he said.

In a media release Tuesday, the RCMP also extended their condolences to residents of Grandmother’s Bay during this difficult time.

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @saskjourno